Buying goods from pagan sources

[e=mv^2]

I really enjoy incense. I enjoy all sorts of it. Indian, Tibetian (Nepalese), Japanese, monastic, etc. I also have a bit of a problem buying it online.

It seems that many (read: most) sources for buying incense on the internet are heavily tied to either paganism or the occult. I try to find sources that at least appear to be somewhat secular or at a minimum not overtly advertising the occult but there are not all that many. This leads me to ask the following:

Do you feel guilt or remorse for purchasing goods/services from pagan / "other" sources? I suppose that I am making too much of this...I also eat sushi on a weekly basis made by shinto/buddhist hands. Typically sushi / indian restaurants are not overtly pushing religious items tho....

Thoughts? Anyone have a good source?

[kidsminister]

Personally, I think dining at a restaurant owned by a Buddhist/Muslim/person of another religion and setting a good example for Christ is a fabulous idea! Too many Christians give the rest of us a bad name by how they act in public...specifially restaurants...and to go in and be courteous and respectful, and build a relationship with someone is a great way to be a witness for Christ and learn about another culture at the same time...

(Speaking of which, the jasmine rice at Indian Ocean down the street from my work is calling my name...it's going to have to call a lot louder and send me some $$, too, but that stuff is one of the best substances known to man!)

As far as incense, etc. goes...I think it depends on your motive for burning it. Let's face it, most of the places you go to buy incense are probably going to be somehow linked to an eastern religion, so you're not going to escape that - whether you buy online, or go to a store in the mall. If you like the way it smells, and that is purely your motive for buying it, then it's no different IMHO than buying a candle or an air freshener from Target.

If you dig deep enough, every store you go to will probably be linked to an organization that promotes some sin or another - as Christians, I think we need to relax and concentrate on sharing the gospel with others, rather than worrying about our $5.00 going to support something that we may disagree with!

P.S. When I was a kid, my grandma had a little Buddha that she burned the cone-shaped incense on...she had it purely for when the grandkids came over, because we liked to see her light the cone and watch it shrink. Isn't it strange what kids are amused by?

[e=mv^2]

P.S. When I was a kid, my grandma had a little Buddha that she burned the cone-shaped incense on...she had it purely for when the grandkids came over, because we liked to see her light the cone and watch it shrink. Isn't it strange what kids are amused by?

Are you kidding? Set anything on fire and a kid will be enthralled. Especially boys - they seem to love playing with fire.
Give a kid a refrigerator box and a lighter and they will be entertained for days. They might come back with fewer eyebrows but they will be entertained =)

Thanks for the response kidsminister, I figured I was making too much out of it. I will continue to avoid overt displays of the occult tho.

[Matrona]

Thoughts? Anyone have a good source?

Hi there,

I hope you don't mind my posting here, but we Orthodox Christians use lots of incense in our worship, so Orthodox monasteries are a good place to get incense. Since we are Christians you don't have to worry about your money going to non-Christians. I can post some links to online stores if you like.

[e=mv^2]

Thanks Matrona, please do.

[Matrona]

Thanks Matrona, please do.

Skete.com has some hand censers (http://www.skete.com/category.cfm?Category=25&CFID=4590564&CFTOKEN=71789858) if you need one. They sit on a table top or you can carry it.

Ascension Monastery has my favorite charcoal (http://monprod.orthodoxinternet.com/product_info.php?cPath=10&products_id=923&osCsid=78b8db65e427bbcc4b34cf8c4879c6ca)--these mini-briquettes burn about a half-hour each and this huge package has lasted me about a year. They also have a huge selection of incense scents (http://monprod.orthodoxinternet.com/index.php?cPath=29&osCsid=78b8db65e427bbcc4b34cf8c4879c6ca), although the smallest size they sell it is 1/4 pound.

Holy Cross Hermitage sells one ounce packages of their incense (http://www.holycross-hermitage.com/mall/Incense/hc_incense_main.asp) so you can try a scent before going in for a large amount of it, and the prices on some of their incense is quite a bit less expensive than Ascension.

[twistedsketch]

I personally don't have a problem with it, as I see it the same way Paul saw buying meat in the marketplace and eating with unbelievers. If there's something overtly religious about it, I stay away.

[jlujan69]

Though this example is slightly off topic, the principle is right on. My wife is a former Buddhist but her friends are still Buddhists. They're all Vietnamese. Anyway, when you go into one of their homes, they'll offer you food and/or drink. It's happened before that I've been offered a fruit or can of soda that had been placed right in front of Buddha as an offering of sorts. I assume that they are trying to honor or show hospitality by offering something that they figure has been "blessed" by Buddha. Anyway, if I notice that what I'm being offered has been offered to this idol previously, I'll politely decline it. In that case, they'll usually offer something else, and as long as I don't know that Buddha's "blessed" it, I have no problems accepting it.

[Father Rick]

While I know your question is much broader in scope than just where to find some supplies... a couple of resources for your supplies are:

www.autom.com (http://www.autom.com)
www.monasteryicons.com (http://www.monasteryicons.com)

[lismore]

Personally, I think dining at a restaurant owned by a Buddhist/Muslim/person of another religion and setting a good example for Christ is a fabulous idea!

Hi friend:wave:

Be very wary about food sacrificed to idols. This is one thing a believer is sepcifically warned against. A good example for Christ might not be participating in their religion. After all, they wouldnt get baptised in the Holy Spirit just for tucker:scratch:

1 Cor: 8 4So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one.